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Yadier Molina, Los Marcianos put fun, games back into softball

Cardinals catcher has a blast playing softball at the Jack

Yadier Molina, left, interferes with Giles Electric player Richie Kohler as Kohler runs to third base during the Hilton Brawl at the Beach amateur softball tournament Saturday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.

News-Journal / Steven Notaras

SEAN KERNANSTAFF WRITER

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 6:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 6:23 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH – Saturday's charity softball game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark was more about having a good time for a good cause than it was about good softball.

And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that.

Giles Electric, winner of the Hilton Brawl at the Beach amateur softball tournament, earned the right to play against the St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina and his Los Marcianos (the Martians) softball team from Puerto Rico.

The name – which Yadier himself came up with – was in script across the chest of uniforms that looked a lot like the Milwaukee Brewers.

It's probably a good thing the uniforms don't look like the Cardinals.

The Martians were dressed the part, but were no match for Giles Electric. The local softball team based in South Daytona pounded out a 24-11 victory in what quickly turned into a softball version of the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals.

Wearing a No. 4 jersey with “Yadi” on the back, the five-time Gold Glove catcher showed he has a little bit of showmanship in him, reminiscent of Meadowlark Lemon when he was a Globetrotter. Yadier was joking around on the field with his teammates, opponents and umpires.

“That's the way Yadi is – he has a lot of personality,” said one of his older brothers, Jose, who plays for the Tampa Bay Rays and is a former Daytona Cub. “Yadi likes to have fun, and that's what this is all about.”

That and raising a little money for Yadier's Foundation 4 charity, which supports various causes in Puerto Rico.

On Saturday, Yadi was a clown prince on the Jack's diamond.

His crowd-pleasing antics included knocking a soft liner to right field and running the bases Jimmy Piersall-style – that's third-to-second, attempting to grab an opposing baserunner to slow him down, running the bases for the opposing team all the way through high-fiving the opponents near their dugout, and leading a group of Martians around the bases for a “nine-run” homer.

“My favorite one is when we all come out of the dugout after a home run and run the bases,” said Bengie Molina, a retired big leaguer who, at 38, is 8 years older than Yadier. “I really like that one.”

With the score 13-0, the Martians decided, rather wisely, that they would add a little levity to the situation. They sent out a few extra outfielders, but that didn't stop Giles Electric's Jon Johnson from going deep to the right-field fence for an inside-the-park homer.

After that, it was all fun and games.

“We're here to have fun,” Yadier said afterward. “We don't care what the score is. We want to meet people, have some fun, and hopefully the fans enjoyed it and the other team had fun, too.”

Judging from the way the Giles Electric players got to run around the bases, and the smiles on their faces as they posed for a postgame photo with Yadier, the amateur softball players had a blast.

The only curveball that fooled Giles Electric was the way the Martians were on the field for fun.

“Actually they did catch us by surprise – we thought they would be more serious – but I liked the overall experience,” said Giles Electric outfielder Daryl Badger Jr., who had his 4-year-old son, Daryl III, on the field after the game.

Before the contest, another Giles player was trying to keep his 18-month-old son, Braydon, from swinging the mini-bat he had just gotten Yadier to autograph.

“He's just having a great time,” Wally Scheu said as Braydon sat on his shoulders. “It's awesome. I'll have to remind him all about it when he's older.”

Yes, Wally Scheu and all the other Giles Electric players will have tales to tell for years from their big game against Yadier Molina and the Martians.

<p><b>DAYTONA BEACH –</b> Saturday's charity softball game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark was more about having a good time for a good cause than it was about good softball.<ep></p><p>And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that.<ep></p><p>Giles Electric, winner of the Hilton Brawl at the Beach amateur softball tournament, earned the right to play against the St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina and his Los Marcianos (the Martians) softball team from Puerto Rico.<ep></p><p>The name – which Yadier himself came up with – was in script across the chest of uniforms that looked a lot like the Milwaukee Brewers.<ep></p><p>It's probably a good thing the uniforms don't look like the Cardinals.<ep></p><p>The Martians were dressed the part, but were no match for Giles Electric. The local softball team based in South Daytona pounded out a 24-11 victory in what quickly turned into a softball version of the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals.<ep></p><p>Wearing a No. 4 jersey with “Yadi” on the back, the five-time Gold Glove catcher showed he has a little bit of showmanship in him, reminiscent of Meadowlark Lemon when he was a Globetrotter. Yadier was joking around on the field with his teammates, opponents and umpires.<ep></p><p>“That's the way Yadi is – he has a lot of personality,” said one of his older brothers, Jose, who plays for the Tampa Bay Rays and is a former Daytona Cub. “Yadi likes to have fun, and that's what this is all about.”</p><p>That and raising a little money for Yadier's Foundation 4 charity, which supports various causes in Puerto Rico.<ep></p><p>On Saturday, Yadi was a clown prince on the Jack's diamond.<ep></p><p>His crowd-pleasing antics included knocking a soft liner to right field and running the bases Jimmy Piersall-style – that's third-to-second, attempting to grab an opposing baserunner to slow him down, running the bases for the opposing team all the way through high-fiving the opponents near their dugout, and leading a group of Martians around the bases for a “nine-run” homer.<ep></p><p>“My favorite one is when we all come out of the dugout after a home run and run the bases,” said Bengie Molina, a retired big leaguer who, at 38, is 8 years older than Yadier. “I really like that one.”<ep></p><p>With the score 13-0, the Martians decided, rather wisely, that they would add a little levity to the situation. They sent out a few extra outfielders, but that didn't stop Giles Electric's Jon Johnson from going deep to the right-field fence for an inside-the-park homer.<ep></p><p>After that, it was all fun and games.<ep></p><p>“We're here to have fun,” Yadier said afterward. “We don't care what the score is. We want to meet people, have some fun, and hopefully the fans enjoyed it and the other team had fun, too.”<ep></p><p>Judging from the way the Giles Electric players got to run around the bases, and the smiles on their faces as they posed for a postgame photo with Yadier, the amateur softball players had a blast.<ep></p><p>The only curveball that fooled Giles Electric was the way the Martians were on the field for fun.<ep></p><p>“Actually they did catch us by surprise – we thought they would be more serious – but I liked the overall experience,” said Giles Electric outfielder Daryl Badger Jr., who had his 4-year-old son, Daryl III, on the field after the game.<ep></p><p>Before the contest, another Giles player was trying to keep his 18-month-old son, Braydon, from swinging the mini-bat he had just gotten Yadier to autograph.<ep></p><p>“He's just having a great time,” Wally Scheu said as Braydon sat on his shoulders. “It's awesome. I'll have to remind him all about it when he's older.”<ep></p><p>Yes, Wally Scheu and all the other Giles Electric players will have tales to tell for years from their big game against Yadier Molina and the Martians.<ep></p>